Jewelry clasp

ABSTRACT

A JEWELRY CLASP WHEREIN AN ELONGATED RECEPTACLE HOUSES A SPRING BIASED BALL. AN OPENING IS PROVIDED IN THE RECEPTACLE TOP, AND FORMS A LIP TO HOLD THE BALL IN POSITION. A SLOT IS DISPOSED IN THE END WALL OF THE RECEPTACLE AND RECEIVES THE SHANK OF A BALL WHICH ENTERS THE RECEPTACLE OPENING AND IS HELD WITHIN THE RECEPTACLE BY THE BIASED RECEPTACLE BALL.

an @mlv Mm e% w A/ W 0 W? W 0 m w m 0 0 Wr q a fi March 16, 1971 H. A.NEUMANN m1.

JEWELRY CLASP 1 Filed Feb. 5, 1969 United States Patent 3,570,078JEWELRY CLASP Harry A. Neumann and Oliver C. Saur, Indianapolis, Ind.,assignors to Frank S. Andrus, Whitefish Bay, Wis., a fractional partinterest Filed Feb. 5, 1969, Ser. No. 796,773 Int. Cl. A44b 17/00 U.S.Cl. 24-201 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A jewelry clasp whereinan elongated receptacle houses a spring biased ball. An opening isprovided in the receptacle top, and forms a lip to hold the ball inposition. A slot is disposed in the end wall of the receptacle andreceives the shank of a ball which enters the receptacle opening and isheld within the receptacle by the biased receptacle ball.

This invention relates to a jewelry clasp and to a unique concept inconnecting and securing two end portions of a-bracelet, necklace or thelike together.

People have worn jewelry since ancient times. Some jewelry has beenexpensive and some less valuable. But in all cases where a separablechain is involved, some means has been provided to secure the separableends together. There have probably been hundreds or thousands ofconnector designs used over the centuries, and all of them have leftsomething to be desired, either as to cost or ease of use. This is trueof necklace connectors, but is even more true of bracelet connectorswhere only one hand is available to manipulate the device.

The present invention constitutes a substantial improvement overprevious devices and contemplates a novel and unique concept of jewelrysecurement. Generally in accordance with the invention, one terminus ofthe jewelry clasp is provided with a walled receptacle having a springbiased movable member therein, and having an opening in one receptacleend wall. The other terminus forms part of a chain end with a free ballmounted thereon which is somewhat smaller than the movable members. Thefree ball is substantially lighter in weight than the chain and isprovided with a shank which can fit into the receptacle end wallopening.

In manipulating the device, the receptacle is brought laterally towardthe free ball and is pressed thereonto with the shank in the opening. Aslight pull on the ball will secure it in place.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the best mode presentlycontemplated for carrying out the invention.

-In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bracelet with the jewelry claspconstructed in accordance with the invention, and showing the one-handedmethod of securement to the arm of the wearer;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the receptacle with the ball insertedtherein;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the receptacle alone taken from the leftof FIG. 2 and with parts broken away;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section showing the ball jointentering the receptacle;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 wherein the ball is within thereceptacle; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 with the ball in its final position.

As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing, the concept of the invention may beembodied in a bracelet of semi-rigid or flexible characteristics. Thebracelet shown has a chain 1 with terminal portions 2 and 3. While bothterminal portions are shown as being directly connected to the chain, itwould not be outside the scope of the invention it main terminal portion2 was fixed to a solid member, such as a cameo or the like. Furthermore,the device may be used with forms of jewelry other than braceletswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

As shown, main terminal portion 2 includes a generally U-shapedrectangular receptacle 4 which is elongated. Receptacle 4 is generallyenclosed except for a generally rectangular opening 5 in its upper wall6 and a narrow central vertical slot 7 in its outer end wall 8. Opening5 is shown as extending inwardly about onethird the length of thereceptacle, although it could be more or less without departing from thespirit of the invention.

Receptacle 4 contains a member which is movable longitudinally therein.In the present embodiment, this member comprises a ball 9' which isdisposed inwardly of opening 5 and which is biased toward the openingand toward slot 7, as by a spring 10 disposed between ball 9 and theinner receptacle wall 11. Stop means, such as an inwardly extendingcurved lip 12 on the inner transverse edge of opening 5, limits theoutward movement of ball 9. 1

Wall 8 is shown as forming an inwardly curved lip 8a on the outertransverse edge of opening 5. Wall 8 is also shown as being slightlyinclined inwardly toward lip 12.

In accordance with the invention, free terminal portion 3 includes asmall ball 13 which is universally attached to chain 1 as by a shank 14,and which is smaller in diameter than ball 9. Ball 13 forms a shoulder15 at its juncture 'with the smaller shank.

The invention contemplates guiding receptacle 4 into proper orientationwith ball 13. For this purpose, terminal 3 and ball 13 are preferablyheld in relatively fixed position, as by hanging them from the wrist.(See FIG. 1.) Receptacle 4 is then grasped and brought into proximity toball 13.

Slight pressure of receptacle '4 against ball 13 will cause the latterto enter opening 5 and force ball 9 rearwardly against the spring 10.The curved lips 8a and 12 form a curved guide for assisting ball 13 inentering opening 5. Shank 14 will enter slot 7. A slight tug on thechain will tighten ball shoulder 15 against outer wall 8, and thebiasing force of spring 10 will cause ball 9 to hold ball 13 tightlywithin the confines of the receptacle. (Compare FIGS. 4, 5 and 6.)

Ball 13 will remain securely locked in place unless and until shank 14is removed from slot 7, as by turning it at to normal and pulling on thechain. Longitudinal separation during normal wear is thereby prevented.

The invention provides a substantially improved clasp structure forjewelry. 'Furnbling with hard-to-join parts is eliminated, and themethod of joining the clasp is unusually eifective.

We claim:

1. For use in joining the first and second terminal portions of anarticle of jewelry, a clasp comprising, in combination:

(a) a receptacle attached to the said rfirst terminal portion and havinga first ball movable therein,

(b) said receptacle having a top wall with an opening therein, andhaving an end wall with a slot therein which terminates in said opening,

(c) spring means disposed between said first ball and a receptacle wallopposite from said previously named end wall for biasing said first balltoward said end wall,

4 (d) a first inwardly extending lip forming an edge References Cited ofsaid receptacle opening for limiting the biasing UNITED STATES PATENTSmovement of said first ball toward said end wall,

t 1 1,618,851 2/1927 Thunberg 24123.1UX (ezioa;1 shank attached to thesald second ermlna p 1,666,272 4/1928 p g 24 123.1UX u h k 5 2,051,5918/1936 Brogan 24-116.1UX @Qjfjggiggfi i i f ed to Sham and formmg2,449,167 9/1948 Hopewell 24116.1UX (g) the construction being such thatsaid shank will 3,237,977 3/1966 Batchelder 24123-1UX enter saidreceptacle slot and said second ball will FOREIGN PATENTS enter saldreceptacle openmg and be biased by said 10 748,238 6/1933 France 287 90Bfirst ball so that said shoulder engages said end wall, 1,352,594 6/1964France 224 116 1 (h) and a second inwardly extendlng lip on the upper861,323 12/1952 Germany 287 12 edge of said end wall, (i) said first andsecond lips forming guide means for BERNARD GELAK, p i Examinerassisting entry of said second ball into said receptacle. 5 2. The claspof claim 1 in which said end wall is in- US. Cl. X.R. clined toward saidfirst lip. 24230

